The Denver Nuggets looked like a team on fumes by the end of the 2025 playoffs. After winning it all in 2023 and staying near the top since, they came crashing down in their second-round loss, due in large part to the underwhelming play of Michael Porter Jr., who shrank under postseason pressure yet again.
Now, with the Western Conference more brutal than ever, the Nuggets may be ready to reshuffle their core to better support Nikola Jokic before his prime starts to narrow or before he asks out.
That brings us to this eye-catching three-team deal that could send shockwaves through the league. The Los Angeles Lakers, desperate for a long-term anchor at center, find a perfect fit. The Brooklyn Nets, sitting in NBA purgatory, roll the dice on an upside swing.
And Denver? They may walk away with two intriguing Lakers pieces and a lottery pick that could extend their championship window and retool on the fly. The names involved are big, the logic behind it is sound, and this proposal actually makes a lot of sense for all sides.
Proposed Trade Details
Denver Nuggets Receive: Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, 2025 No. 8 Overall Pick
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Nic Claxton
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Michael Porter Jr., 2025 No. 55 Overall Pick
